Tie downs

ABSTRACT

A tiedown mechanism is provided for holding an object to a surface having a first link means pivoted at one end to said surface, a tiedown rod pivoted at one end on the other end of said first link means, and having engaging means on the other end engaging the object to be held and extensible means pivoted at one end on the surface and at the other end adjacent the pivotal connection between said first link means and said tiedown rod.

United States Patent Inventor Robert E. Kotzbacher Alliance, Ohio Appl. No. 840,407 Filed July 9, 1969 Patented July 13, 1971 I Assignee The Allianee Machine Company TIE DOWNS 7 Chins, 4 Dravlhg Fl.

11.5. CI 248/361, 105/336E, 248/119 Int. Cl. B65j 1/22 Field ol Search 2481361 B, 361,119,119 5; 105/369 5, 368 S, 368, 366 E; 254/57, 126

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,416,191 5/1922 Girard 248/119X 2,529,588 11/1950 Beckett 105/369 3,228,641 1/1966 Ferris 248/119 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,086,786 2/1955 France 248/119 Primary ExaminerChancellor E. Harris Attorney-Buell, Blenko and Ziesenheim ABSTRACT: A tiedown mechanism is provided for holding an object to a surface having a first link means pivoted at one end to said surface, a tiedown rod pivoted at one end on the other end of said first link means, and having engaging means on the other end engaging the object to be held and extensible means pivoted at one end on the surface and at the other end adjacent the pivotal connection between said first link means and said tiedown rod.

PATENTEU JULISIHII 3,592,432

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INVENTOR.

ROBERT E. KOTZBACHER his ATTORNEYS TIE IDUWNS This invention relates to tiedowns and particularly to an apparatus for fastening a movable object, such as a gantry crane, to a surface across which it normally moves to prevent any relative movement between the movable object and the surface.

There are many situations where it is necessary or at least desirable to tie down or fasten a movable object to a surface on which it normally moves so as to prevent any relative movement of the two. A typical such situation is found in the problem of holding shipboard gantry cranes against movement relative to the ships deck in storms and the like and the present invention will be described with particular relationship to such a situation.

The problem of holding a gantry crane in place on shipboard is well recognized. The sudden changes in direction of a ship in heavy seas creates tremendous forces on equipment used to hold down equipment and cargo on the deck of the ship. The result is that, unless the tiedown mechanism is very strong, the continuous tossing of the ship will work the equipment loose or break the tiedowns. As a result, the search has continued for better tiedown mechanisms to hold equipment in place on a ship deck.

The present invention provides a tiedown mechanism which holds equipment on a deck surface against vertical and horizontal movement in all directions and which cannot be jarred or worked loose.

Preferably there is provided in combination with a surface and an object movable thereon, a tiedown mechanism com-v prising first link means pivoted atone end to said surface, a tiedown rod pivoted at one end on the other end of said first link means and having an opening in the opposite end adapted to fit over a pad on said movable object extending transverse to the deck surface, and ratchet means pivoted at one end on the surface between the pivot of said first link means and the movable object and at its other end adjacent the pivotal connection between said first link means and said tiedown rod, whereby the angular relationship of the link means and tiedown rod can be changed so as to change the combined straight line length thereof. Preferably fluid control means are connected to said one end of the tiedown link to rotate the same about the pivot on the first link means. A screwjack is preferably provided in the opening in the tiedown adapted to lock the opening to the pad on the movable object. A screwjack is also preferably provided on a vertical standard fixed to the surface and adapted to move generally parallel to the surface to engage the object and a ratchet pivoted at one end to the surface and extending generally transverse to the object at an angle to the screwjack to engage the object adjacent the screwjack.

In the foregoing general description certain objects, purposes and advantages ofthis invention have been pointed out. Other objects, purposes and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view ofa tiedown according to this invention applied to a gantry crane on a ship deck;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tiedown of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line III-Ill of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section on the line IVIV of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a ship deck carrying rails 11 for gantry crane 12. The gantry crane I2 is provided with wheels 13 at the base of legs I4 which carry the gantry. Each leg 14 is provided with pads 15 extending from the side thereof at an angle of about to from the horizontal. A platform 16 is provided on the ship deck 10 alongside rails 11 at a point where it is desired to store the gantry. The platform 16 is provided on the ship deck 10 along side rails II at a point where it is desired to store the gantry. The platform is preferably made up ofa pair of spaced vertical members 17 and 18 and a top member 19. The top member 19 is provided with vertically upstanding posts 20 provided with opening 21 carrying a shaft 22. A pair of first link means 23 are pivoted at one end to the shaft 22. A U-shaped tiedown rod 24 is pivoted to the other end of first link means 23, the U- shaped end being adapted to pass over and engage pads 15 on the gantry. A screwjack 25 is mounted in the U-shaped tiedown rod 24 and is adapted to be engaged against the opposite side of pad 15 from the tiedown rod. A ratchet 26 is pivoted at one end to the top member 19 and at the other end to the end of first link means 23 adjacent its pivot with tiedown rod 24. By adjusting the ratchet 26, the angular relationship between links 23 and tiedown rod 24 can be changed so as to change the distance from the shaft 22 to the end of the tiedown link 24 on pad I5, thus tightening the link on pad 15 or loosening it from pad 15 as the case may be. A bellcrank arm 27 is provided on the tiedown rod 24 and is connected to a fluid piston 28 operated by cylinder 29 pivotally attached to the platform top member 19. Operation of piston 28 rotates the tiedown rod 24 from its locking position on pad IS'to the unlocked position shown in chain line on FIG. 1.

A screwjack 30 fixed to upstanding vertical member 18 is adapted to engage and disengage the leg 14 of gantry 12 to prevent side movement.

A second ratchet 31 is pivoted at one end on ring 32 fixed to platform top member 19 and is adaptedto engage a hook 33 on gantry leg 14. Tightening the ratchet 31 holds the gantry against movement longitudinally of the deck.

An identical unit is preferably placed at each of the four gantry legs to tie the gantry tightly against movement in any direction.

The tiedown described above is simple to operate, quickly attached and released and relatively inexpensive to construct. It will hold a gantry against shifting under even the most extreme conditions of weather without working loose.

A preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described hereinabove. However, it will be understood that this invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tiedown mechanism comprising in combination a surface, an object movable on said surface and having a tiedown pad thereon, a first link means pivoted at one end to said surface, a tiedown rod pivoted at one end on the other end of said first link means and free at the other end, said free other end having engaging means engaging over the pad on the object to be held and extensible means pivoted at one end on the surface and at the other end adjacent the pivotal connection between said first link means and said tiedown rod whereby the angular relationship between said first link means and tiedown rod can be changed so as to change the combined straight line length thereof.

2. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pad is a projection on the object and the said other end of the tiedown rod is provided with an opening slidable over said pad.

3. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein the opening in the tiedown rod is provided with locking means engaging said pad to lock the opening thereon.

4. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein screwjack means are provided on said surface adjacent the object engaging the object to prevent movement transverse to thesurface.

5. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein expansion-contractive means are attached at one end to said surface and removably attached to said object whereby to prevent longitudinal movement of said object parallel to said surface.

6. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein screwjack means are provided on said surface adjacent the object engaging the object to prevent movement transverse to said expansion-contraction means.

7. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 1 having fluid operated means rotating said tiedown rod about its pivot on the link means into and out of engagement with said pad. 

1. A tiedown mechanism comprising in combination a surface, an object movable on said surface and having a tiedown pad thereon, a first link means pivoted at one end to said surface, a tiedown rod pivoted at one end on the other end of said first link means and free at the other end, said free other end having engaging means engaging over the pad on the object to be held and extensible means pivoted at one end on the surface and at the other end adjacent the pivotal connection between said first link means and said tiedown rod whereby the angular relationship between said first link means and tiedown rod can be changed so as to change the combined straight line length thereof.
 2. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pad is a projection on the object and the said other end of the tiedown rod is provided With an opening slidable over said pad.
 3. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein the opening in the tiedown rod is provided with locking means engaging said pad to lock the opening thereon.
 4. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein screwjack means are provided on said surface adjacent the object engaging the object to prevent movement transverse to the surface.
 5. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein expansion-contractive means are attached at one end to said surface and removably attached to said object whereby to prevent longitudinal movement of said object parallel to said surface.
 6. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein screwjack means are provided on said surface adjacent the object engaging the object to prevent movement transverse to said expansion-contraction means.
 7. A tiedown mechanism as claimed in claim 1 having fluid operated means rotating said tiedown rod about its pivot on the link means into and out of engagement with said pad. 